Disaster risk management (DRM)as a global challengefor geographic data

No matter how complex the situation is, there is always an

anchor of clarity: its geographic component.

Tom De Groeve

Seventh Plenary Meeting of UN-GGIM: Europe, 22 June 2020 via webinar

The potential

consequences of cross-scale

systemic environmental

risks with global effects

are increasing.

So

urc

e: m

od

ified

from

K

eys, P

.W., G

ala

z, V

., Dye

r, M. e

t al.

An

thro

pocen

eris

k. N

at

Su

sta

in2

, 66

7–6

73 (2

01

9).

http

s://d

oi.o

rg/1

0.1

038

/s4189

3-0

19-0

327-x

DRM has become an (evenmore!) global challenge in the Anthropocene era

The “knowability” of the new threats (and their interlinkages) ranges widely

Source: https://noop.nl/2008/08/simple-vs-complicated-

vs-complex-vs-chaotic.html

emergent practice good practice

novel practice best practice

No matter the level of complexity of the situation, when a disaster strikes, questions are recurrent, simple…

…and urgent!

Where? Severity? Impact?

Access? Duration? Evolution?

Difficult answers to simple questions

Com

po

ne

nts

of G

eo

sp

atial Te

ch

no

logy –

Cre

dits:G

eo

sp

atial G

lob

al

Ou

tlo

ok R

ep

ort

20

17

/ G

eo

Bu

izR

ep

ort

20

17

Data,

information

& analysis

Timely

Global

coverage

Reliable

upon need

Properly

detailed

Verified/

validated

Historical

& updated

Right

format,

clear

content

JRC Disaster Risk Management Unitthe DRM science advisors of a (very) complex system!

Our MISSION is to strengthen the EU’s resilience to crises and disasters and the

EU’s aim to promote stability and peace through better management of risk.

Our RESEARCH covers earth observation, modelling, artificial intelligence and crisis

management technologies and analysis.

JRC Disaster Risk Management Unitwe work for all phases of the DRM cycle & we inform all phases of the policy cycle

all natural and man-made hazards

Integrated research and knowledge management in

climate, natural, technological, health and conflict risk

globally.

Integrated systems for risk analysis, situational

awareness, early warning and collaborative decision-

making.

Monitoring, evaluation, anticipation and communication of

the impacts of weather extremes and future climate

change

Evaluation of the effectiveness of policies and measures

for DRR and sustainable development.

Disaster Risk Management Knowledge

Centre

Global Human

SettlementLayer

CopernicusEmergency

Management Service

CrisisManagement

ExternalSecurity and

Stability

JRC Disaster Risk Management UnitThe Unit is organized in 5 projects

Our lessons learnt from 20 years of science advice……for upcoming/ongoing emergencies

As local as possible

As global as necessary

Speed, predictability, reliability Trust

Clarity Uncertainty Visual

Right Information, Right Time, Right Format, Right Place

• Automated GIS-based impact

analysis of earthquakes, cyclones,

tsunamis, droughts, floods and

volcanoes.

• Actionable information with Green-

Orange-Red alert scores for

humanitarian impact.

• A long-term partnership among EU and

UN based on science

Global Disaster Alert and Coordinatin System

Example of a map produced by the JRC based on GDACS automatic information during cyclone AMPHAN in Bangladesh in May 2020

Right Information, Right Time, Right Format, Right Place

• All phases of disasters, combining EO,

in-situ data and modelling

• Having access to science advice

under predictable service level

agreements is important.

• A major success story of the trilateral

partnership among scientists,

practitioners, private sector in the EU

Copernicus Emergency Mapping Rapid Mapping Service

Example of a wildfire monitoring over 1 year’s time, from CEMS Global Wildfire Information System

Right Information, Right Time, Right Format, Right Place

• Media monitoring of news on diseases

and symptoms.

• Spatio-temporal mapping for risk

analysis with back. Detection of COVID

in December.

• A long-term partnership between EU

and WHO based on science

• One of tools for COVID-19 monitoring

Epidemics Intelligence from Open Sources

Example of EIOS screen showing news volume on COVID-19 filtered for imported cases in Europe

Our lessons learnt from 20 years of science advice……for DRM & DRR policies

Transparency Openness Uncertainty

Co-design Flexibility Non-emergency science work

Risk Data HubQuality data are built on long term efforts

Loss data is the empirical basis for risk analysis

Guidelines for recording, storing and sharing

loss data

Tools for Member States and Institutions

Data curation in the DRM Knowledge Centre

Support for building common evidence base in

EU policy

RiskDataHub

Global Human Settlement LayerGlobally agreed definition of cities – from Space

Global Human Settlement Layer, part of Human Planet InitiativeOpen data available in JRC Data Catalogue

PESETA IV – Climate impacts and adaptationFuture risk

Conclusions – DRM & Global Geospatial Information Management

Fast, reliable (difficult)

answers/evidences for (simple)

questions in RESPONSE times

Flexibility is built on SOLID

FOUNDATIONS of basic

research and trustworthiness.

Provide EVIDENCE to gain the

essential political support also in

ordinary time

EU Science Hub: ec.europa.eu/jrc

@EU_ScienceHub

EU Science Hub – Joint Research Centre

EU Science, Research and Innovation

Eu Science Hub

Keep in touch

Thank you

© European Union 2020

Unless otherwise noted the reuse of this presentation is authorised under the CC BY 4.0 license. For any use or reproduction of elements that are not owned by the

EU, permission may need to be sought directly from the respective right holders.

Slide xx: element concerned, source: e.g. Fotolia.com; Slide xx: element concerned, source: e.g. iStock.com